Is Bullying Common?
The common belief that bullying is an integral part of childhood is sadly, very true. It is estimated that about fifty percent of all students of middle and high schools are affected by this malady. The National Youth Violence Prevention’s study of 2006 found that 30% of all students are either bullies or victims of bullying. Around 11% of young children are victims and a larger percentage, 13% are bullies. Surprisingly, 6% say that at one time or the other they have been either a victim or a bully. This remarkable study only confirms the belief that bullying is a common phenomenon in schools, which can affect the lives of exposed children.
While any child can become a victim of bullying, some types are more prone to be targeted. A child, different due to race, ethnicity, religion, language or mental or physical handicap stands a higher chance of ending up as a victim to bullying. It is more prevalent among boys than girls and is also likely to be physical in nature. Among girls, it is emotional bullying, in the form of what is said, that is prevalent. Bullying can take place anywhere including the ubiquitous computer and cell phone.
It is a popular notion that bullies are children with low self-esteem who try to compensate for such a feeling by acting aggressively. Unfortunately this is contrary to what actually happens. Bullies are normally confident and popular who bully others either for the fun of it or to show off or to exercise control and impress their peers. Far from a sense of guilt, they feel elated and are often in trouble in other areas of school life too. While it is very likely that uncorrected bullies, who grow up to adulthood get into problems with the law and substance abuse, reformed bullies who are counseled into proper interpersonal relationships grow up into normal adults.
Victims of bullying too can be counseled into overcoming the negative effects of bullying, particularly if the bullies are also counseled and stop bullying before any serious damage takes place. Not all victims of bullying end up with emotional and physical problems. Some however seem to, particularly when exposed to prolonged bullying for a long period of time. Such children do tend to become neurotic with low self-esteem, suicidal, and manic-depressive in adulthood. Some even drop out of school without graduating or are unable to study well due to the stress of being at the receiving end of bullying.
All schools have this problem to some degree or the other. It is up to the parents and teachers to be on the look out for signs of bullying and take corrective action before either the bully or the victim suffers long-term ill effects. Passive parenting under the assumption that children will outgrow this phase can result in disastrous consequences. So, please treat the phenomenon of bullying with the seriousness that it deserves.